Hello there! This fic will be updated weekly without a fault, as it's already been written. Hope you will enjoy this Fifth Holy Grail War version.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
I was granted a wish.
Some would call it a lifetime opportunity, others a childish fantasy.
I jumped on it without an ounce of hesitation.
"I wonder what kind of person this will turn you into. Good luck, my friend."
That was the last thing I heard before my departure. Honestly, I asked myself the same question, along with countless others.
However, my goal itself was clear from the start.
DAY 0 - THE INTRUDER
Crimson and steel. The sound of flesh rent apart.
An inevitability I've forcefully undone by encroaching on a story already written.
As I pull my blade from his chest, what remains of Emiya Shirou falls to the floor.
"It's not like I've got anything against you personally; this is just the way it had to be. This..."
I utter my next words as a resolved justification.
"This is my Holy Grail War now."
I kneel and grab his left arm, trying to ignore his ragged breathing and pitiful expression.
"I need one more thing before freeing you."
I groan as he tries to get away and kick his wound, making him fall flat with a shout of pain.
"Stop struggling, I don't have time for this!"
I try to calm down and reach for his barely visible Command Spell. Suppressing my fear of being attacked at any moment, I start casting a complex spell I learned for this occasion. After a couple of minutes, the mark has been successfully transplanted to my right hand. The throbbing sensation is as weird as thrilling. So this will be my connection to Saber...
I look back at the boy. Even with her artifact in him, he is on the verge of dying. I raise my hand above him and cast. I am not versed in elemental magic at all, but this should suffice.
"Brûle et ne laisse aucune trace."
Flames engulf his body and burn it to the ground. Two items remain in the ashes: a golden sheath and a red pendant. Avalon!
The jewel won't be of any use but I don't want Tohsaka Rin to stumble upon it since it's hers. I pocket it for now and pick up Saber's artifact. I pause to make sure the house is still as silent. My timing seems correct. I was afraid I would have to face Lancer but I should be able to summon Saber beforehand. I decide to go to the shed and do that right away. The spearman should appear soon after, followed by Rin and Archer. I exit the living room via a corridor before reaching the courtyard.
The cold, cloudless night doesn't alleviate my boiling mind. I just killed an innocent guy to reach my goal, and right now my mind is a mix of guilt, apprehension and joy. I must focus on what is to come, the war hasn't even started yet. It had to be done that way. I jog to the shed and push the door open. The room is filled with junk, and it takes me a bit of shuffling around to find the dusty magic circle. After laying Avalon on it, I take a deep breath, channel a good amount of prana through my arm and extend my now marked hand.
"You, summoned by the Holy Grail
I will incarnate light
And condemn darkness
Lend me your sword, king of knights!"
I am positive that the chant is correct. Nothing happens for a few seconds, then a golden light starts flashing and fills the small room, blinding me. That energy burst must have been felt by every Servant in the city. Good. Pushed back, I land on my behind. As I regain my sight, I stare at the woman whom I came here for. Saber. She's even more beautiful than I thought she'd be. Looking down on me with a fierce expression, she asks the question I've been waiting for so long.
"I ask you... Are you my Master?"
The moonlight shines on her hair and armor, making an unforgettable sight. The green eyes, gleaming with confidence, interrupt my train of thoughts for a second and leave me speechless. I thought I was prepared for this, but right now I can barely look at her directly. Now is not the time to be amazed however, since Lancer should be here very soon. I collect my thoughts and try without success to calm down my heartbeat while I stand up to face her. She is much shorter than me but it doesn't make her any less intimidating.
"Ah, yes, I am. I summoned you using Avalon, so you must be the king of knights, right?"
I already know the answer to that but I want to do things properly. She looks at Avalon on the ground and nods. I notice her stare lingering on my katana before she speaks up.
"That is correct. I was summoned as Saber, the Servant of the sword, so please call me that way, Master. My blade shall henceforth be your blade. I shall shield you with my body and share your fate."
My self introduction dies in my throat as she turns to the door and frowns.
"An enemy is coming."
That really was a close call. I tense up while explaining the situation to her.
"That must be Lancer. He murdered the owner of this house a moment ago, but your summoning must have drawn back his attention."
At least I'm capable of lying with a straight face.
"Then I shall face him. We will put Avalon in a safe place after that."
She takes out her invisible sword and runs past me, exiting the shed. I follow slowly and hear the house boundary field ringing. Adrenaline rushes in my veins, which annihilates my apprehension. This is our first fight. The Servant in blue deftly lands on the ground, ten meters away from us. His smile turns into a confused expression.
"Yo. Wait, you're not the guy I..."
His stare locks on Saber and a beast-like grin grows on his face. A long, red spear materializes in his hand.
"Ha! I was here to finish an unfitting job, but it seems like I've found a much bigger fish! The seventh Servant!"
Said Servant does not react. Is she waiting for my order?
"Defeat him, Saber."
I can feel my prana flowing to her. The bond is fresh and still a bit shaky, but the sensation is warm and nice. A quick nod and she rushes at the opponent with blinding speed. He takes a stance, spear ready.
"What are you thinking, attacking me unarm- Ugh!"
The invisible sword is parried by only a small margin. Lancer is pushed away while she follows the motion without pausing. The impacts of her sword echo loudly in the courtyard and resonate in my head, leaving me astonished. Such power... The spearman isn't half bad either. After the initial surprise, he recovered and is able to counter more efficiently. However, Saber's explosivity gives her the upper hand in terms of power. Her speed isn't subpar either, but her most dangerous ability is her instinct. She parries all of her opponent's strikes and keeps on pushing him. Lancer takes the opportunity of a large swing to jump... erm, fly back. In terms of agility, he is definitely on another level. He shoots a barking laugh.
"What sort of coward are you, hiding your weapon like that?"
Saber answers his taunting tone with her own.
"What about you, Lancer? You will give your class a bad name if you keep on defending."
His smile drops and he slightly lowers his stance.
"I have one question for you. Your Noble Phantasm, is it a sword?"
"Perhaps it is... It might also be a battle axe, a spear or even a bow, Lancer."
That makes him grin. "Sure... Saber."
He throws me a quick glance that sends a chill down my spine, then thankfully focuses back to my Servant.
"I have a proposition. Since this is our first meeting, how about we call it a draw? You were just summoned, after all."
Saber shakes her head. "I refuse. Servants are meant to fight to the very end."
That makes him sigh exaggeratedly. "Geez, that's how it is, then."
He takes a new stance and his face completely changes. His voice turns cold as ice and the intent to kill he emits terrifies me.
"In that case, I will take your heart."
His energy rises and runs through his lance as it glows intensely. He is about to use his Noble Phantasm, a final move that pierces the target's heart automatically. I was hoping I could be of some distraction in such a situation, but I realize I was too optimistic. No mere human could approach that man in this instant. The only reassuring fact I have is that Saber will survive this attack. Lancer is currently bound by his Master's command, and her high luck is perfect to dodge a move that relies on it. I'm still worried, but I keep telling myself that I haven't changed enough of the story I know for that event to unfold differently.
She stays still, ready to defend. I can't really shout her advice about an ability I'm not supposed to know, can I? I take a few steps to the left. I've got an idea...
"Gae..."
Uttering an ominous call, Lancer rushes with his lance pointed at Saber's feet. The direction doesn't matter as the cursed weapon reverses cause and effect. Once the Noble Phantasm is cast, it will pierce the opponent's heart by adjusting the position automatically. It is definitely one of the best attacks one can use in a duel between Servants. In a logical reaction, she goes for his exposed head.
"BOLG!"
Even if I know what is going to happen, I still can't figure it out. The spear is at her feet then, without a single change in momentum, it suddenly pierces her chest. As expected, she escapes with a bleeding hole right above her heart.
"You... dodged it?"
I can see a flash of understanding in Saber's pained eyes.
"Gae Bolg, the cursed lance? You are Ireland's child of light, Cu Chulainn!"
Lancer seems stunned from his fail. That's a perfect opportunity for me! Now behind his back, I mutter a spell.
"Vitesse divine."
Prana enhances my legs, allowing me to dash to him in a couple of seconds. I unsheathe my katana, ready to slash him with all my might. He does see me coming, but that action surprises him so much that he can only turn back and block the hit.
"What the...?!"
"Saber!"
She wakes up from an apparent astonishment and slashes him from behind.
"Damn-"
Lancer escapes with a high jump and lands far away from us. I can see blood dripping from his back but we definitely didn't hurt him fatally. Damn, we were almost there!
"A Master rushing at a Servant?"
His furious tone makes me think that he wants to settle this right now, but he soon lowers his lance.
"My Master is ordering me back since you guys figured out my identity and dodged Gae Bolg. It's too bad he is a coward unlike yours, Saber."
The red eyes pierce me with a terrifying glare.
"That's not a compliment. You interfered, boy, and I will kill you for that."
He runs to the nearest wall and disappears into the night. I thought Saber would try to chase him, but she is apparently too surprised to do that. Her wound looks pretty bad from here. We stand there for a few seconds, staring at each other blankly, and then...
"Master, what were you thinking?"
Oh, she's mad. She jogs to me and gauges if I wasn't wounded while giving me a glare as scary as Lancer's.
"You are not supposed to step into a Servants' duel. If you get killed, everything is over!"
I take a breath and face her green stare. I must address this immediately.
"I get that you do the fighting, but I can't pass on opportunities like that one. We almost got him."
Her lecturing voice turns into a confused one.
"But... You do not have the power to take that kind of initiative! If Lancer had been a bit quicker, he would have killed you on the spot."
And her confusion becomes suspicion.
"I suppose that you do not trust me yet, but..."
"It is not a trust problem. I intend to win this war at your side, not watching from afar. That's how it's gonna be, Saber."
"You... kuh-"
Her incoming comeback is interrupted by a contained groan as she holds her wound. The armor fixes itself and it is quickly healed, but only on the surface since the lance holds a curse. I relax and smile.
"I can help you with that."
I raise my hand above her chest, probably blushing furiously, and cast a healing spell. It takes me a short moment but seems to do good. Her face shows surprise once more.
"Master..."
"The name's Benjamin, but you can just call me Ben. I know a couple of healing spells for that kind of situation."
Her previous fierce behavior vanishes as she softens up, making my heart skip a beat.
"Then I shall call you Ben. You seem to be a Magus as gifted as reckless."
"That's a resume I can go with. I'm glad to meet you, partner."
She shakes my extended hand with vigor.
"Our pact takes form. I will make sure you win this war."
I nod and turn back to the house, expecting two other guests soon. "We will."
-.-.-.-
She speaks up again once we are in the corridor.
"Given what you said earlier, I take this is not your property?"
I shake my head. "I came all the way from Europe to take part in the Holy Grail War. My presence here is more a coincidence than anything."
I prepare my best poker face when we stumble on the pile of ashes tainted with blood. Here lies your soulmate, Saber.
"I saw Lancer leaving this house and decided to investigate. He had murdered the owner and there was nothing I could do except burning down the corpse. The guy seemed to be a Magus so I decided to not leave a trace of him. I don't know if he was a Master or just very unlucky."
She looks at the mess with a difficult expression.
"Perhaps he was one..."
I shrug. "It's a possibility, even if I didn't see a mark on him or another Servant. I didn't wander around too much, though, as my priority was to summon you."
I grab a nearby broom and put the ashes in the bin, partly because it's easier to lie if I'm not focusing on her. Her voice tenses up after a moment and she turns towards the entrance.
"There are two enemies approaching. A Servant, and probably his Master."
Ah. "Now that you mention it, I sense something..."
She readies her sword. I know who these two are and I do not want them dead yet. Tohsaka Rin will be very useful if I manage to make her a temporary ally. I've got to play my cards well.
"What is your command?"
Think fast, Ben.
"Right. Saber, let's go greet them, but do not kill the Master unless I order you or they pose an immediate threat."
She gives me sheepish look. "Master, this is a war. You mentioned not passing on opportunities earlier, thus I was positive you would consider Masters as main targets."
I have no time to argue so my answer comes out sharply.
"Info gathering is important too. Now let's move!"
A not at all convinced nod later, she runs to the door. I follow through while casting away my katana to its dimensional drawer, but she quickly gets far ahead. I hear steel crashing against steel before exiting the house via the front door. Saber is facing a man dressed in red with white hair. I know him as Archer, a very versatile Servant that is much more than a bowman. Wielding dual swords, he seems to be having trouble. Not only is he less strong in close range than her, given his class, but he also knew her before becoming a heroic spirit. I don't think his focus could be more disturbed, unless...
As he steps back, shielding his Master, his stare falls on me.
"What...?"
Saber takes advantage of his sudden immobility and slashes him mercilessly.
"Archer, go back!"
A Command Spell makes the Servant disappear as my own is about to finish him off, though she still wounded him pretty badly. She rushes at the defenseless Master, killing my small hope that she was agreeing with me a moment ago. The enemy answers with a powerful wind spell that is cast with a single word. I know this girl's magic is based on releasing stored energy, which is pretty much the only way for a human to release such power in an instant. It explodes right in front of Saber but doesn't faze her at all, only slowing her down for a second. She has the strongest magic resistance in this war thanks to her class. Even if I know the theory, it's crazy to witness the actual thing. I would have been torn to pieces...
The enemy falls on the ground and Saber points her sword at her face.
"This is the end, Archer's Master. You fought well-"
Why am I still standing here!? I run to them as fast as I can.
"Wait, Saber, we talked about this!"
Tohsaka and I stare at each other. She's still on the ground and her fierce eyes filled with silent questions take me off guard. That blue is a bit distracting... She is obviously wondering about who I am and why I stopped my Servant. A Servant who keeps her sword up, by the way.
"Master! This is a unique opportunity!"
She is as hard-headed as me, it seems. That is not a good omen regarding future arguments between us.
"Hold on for now. You, what's your name?"
A sarcastic voice answers me.
"What for? Want to say it out loud theatrically before your Servant kills me?"
Add another one to the stubborn club. I sigh.
"Isn't stopping her enough for you? Fine, then. Saber, lower your sword."
The shock on her face makes her disapproval very clear.
"Such a decision is far beyond reckless!"
"You have my permission to slash her if she does anything threatening. You'd surely be faster than another spell like that now that you've seen it, right?"
"Certainly, but..."
She hesitates for a moment before obeying reluctantly.
"If that is what my Master desires, I can only comply."
I think that's the best I will get from her at this point. Rin keeps her suspicious face on while she stands up and dusts herself off.
"Where is the owner of this house?"
For someone in such a bad position, her voice is surely sharp and inquisitive. I can't help but admire her strength of mind. I use the nicest tone I can muster without sounding condescending.
"I suggest we get inside before discussing important matters. We can't stay in the street like that, especially since that fight could draw more attention."
It doesn't seem to work since she looks at me as if I just said something indecent.
"Sure... Following you and your Servant in a quiet place when mine can't fight sounds lovely but I'll pass. No matter what you order Saber, you're just waiting to gather info before stabbing me in the back."
Regardless of what she thinks, her situation doesn't really allow her to do anything else. She is likely ready to throw a spell if we make a move, but I know she is smart enough to understand that she can't surprise us anymore. I cross my arms, feeling my patience dwindling.
"Come on, at least tell me your name."
She imitates the gesture and answers angrily.
"Tohsaka Rin! Is that of any interest for you?"
I put on my best impressed expression.
"Are you joking? The Tohsakas are one of the greatest family of Magi in this country. You certainly know a lot more about this war than a foreigner like me."
After a surprised "hmph", she gauges me with badly hidden curiosity.
"A foreigner that knows about my family... I figure you were sent by the Association, then?"
Ah, perfect. Lying is much easier if my interlocutor voices it before me.
"I was, a couple of days ago. Look, I don't mean to harm you. How about we make an info exchange? I can tell you what Lancer's abilities are and what happened to this house owner, and you can give me more details about the current war. What do you say?"
We both look at Saber. She hasn't said a word and is still on guard. Tohsaka lets out a small sigh.
"You couldn't make a less subtle trap, but you seem to have me cornered so I don't really have a choice. What is your name anyway?"
I can understand her state of mind, but I really don't plan on attacking her. Oh well, I guess I'll prove my good will eventually.
"I'm Benjamin. Just call me Ben if you wish so. Knowledge is key and I can't pass on an opportunity to talk with one of the most influential Magi of Japan."
She gasps. "Hey, flattery will get you nowhere!"
I guess that's not how I will calm her down.
"I was being sincere. Now, Saber..."
Those green eyes are still as intimidating. I can tell she is judging what kind of Master I am in this instant.
"Yes?"
Feeling like a tightrope walker, I speak in a solemn voice.
"Can you promise on your knight's honor that we won't attack Tohsaka tonight unless she threatens us?"
Her head lowers slightly. "I am convinced that this is a dangerous call, Master. However, I will abide by your will. I shall not harm Tohsaka Rin if she does not try first. Tonight."
She lets go of the latent enmity she still had and her sword disappears. I can't decipher her expression and I really hope I didn't offend her in some way. That gesture seems to surprise our companion.
"Well... if you go that far, I guess that I'll follow. Saber doesn't look like she would take back a promise. Consider yourself lucky that I want to know what's up with Emiya!"
Apparently mad, she walks to the door without waiting for us. Saber and I exchange a silent stare before following her inside.
-.-.-.-
This is certainly a strange setup. We are having a meeting near a big stain of blood, in a house that doesn't belong to any of us. I rummage around for tea, feeling Tohsaka's glare following every move I make. She showed some shock when seeing the blood stain but hasn't inquired yet. I wonder when that bomb will drop. Saber isn't really helpful since she's giving me the exact same treatment. At least I don't sense actual hostility from her. More of a "why did you even do that?" attitude.
I decide to break the awkward silence after sitting down at their side. We need to move on, the night is just starting.
"I'll start. The owner of this place was killed by Lancer."
That was quite blunt, though she doesn't seem surprised. She puts a hand in front of her mouth and mutters for herself.
"I figured... Damn, I was stupid."
"Sorry?"
She frowns. "I mean, I knew that guy wouldn't last long. He saw Archer and Lancer fighting earlier today. You are surely aware of what happens to witnesses when magic is involved."
I nod. "They must be eliminated, which explains Lancer's presence here. Didn't he act according to the rules, then?"
She ponders, obviously suppressing her deeper feelings.
"He did but it's still a hard hit. He was only an acquaintance, but I know a couple of people who will be devastated."
Her blue eyes narrow and scan me suspiciously.
"Speaking of which, what were you doing here exactly, Benjamin? What a weird name."
I focus on being faithful to what I told my Servant, trying to ignore the mockery.
"Hey now... I saw Lancer leaving the house and decided to investigate. I expected to find a Master's base or something similar, but I just found that Emiya guy's corpse. I burned it down and proceeded with summoning Saber since the place was safe."
I really hope that story will work out. Saber seemed to buy it earlier, and now she is listening with attention while drinking her tea. As for Tohsaka, her expression doesn't change.
"You just happened to be a wandering Master stumbling on a murder scene?"
Damn. "Yeah, pretty much. Lancer wasn't exactly being stealthy."
"And you burned the corpse because...?"
I answer her sharp stare with my own.
"Because it's part of our role as Magi to not leave traces. I figured it would be the best course of action. I'll clean up if I have the time."
She looks away and her voice becomes a bit more emotional.
"I know it is our roles but... well, this is going to be hell. I should postpone telling his close ones the truth until the end of the war. I couldn't deal with announcing that to Sakura right now..."
Her rambling is more to herself than us and she doesn't bother clarifying who she is talking about. I decide to improve my chances for her to trust me by adding more info.
"Also, as I said before, we fought Lancer and figured out his identity and Noble Phantasm."
She looks at Saber. "Really? How did that go?"
I nod as the knight looks for my approval before answering the enemy.
"The battle ended in a draw. I survived his fatal attack and his Master called him back after we..."
Her stare lingers on me for a second, silently reminding me of my recklessness.
"... figured out who he was."
Tohsaka's eyes widen.
"You survived his Noble Phantasm and are barely wounded? I understand why the Saber class is known to be the strongest one now."
She pouts slightly. I notice that she uses a much gentler tone when speaking with Saber.
"You look like you regret not summoning her."
She turns to me, surprised.
"Me? Definitely. That was a failure from my part. I'm even more mad now that I see her. Beautiful, strong and a good personality too. If only..."
Saber shows no reaction and I can't contain a small chuckle. Tohsaka gets back on track immediately.
"About his identity, Archer figured too, given his beast-like agility. He is Cu Chulainn, right?"
"He is. Gae Bolg is a cursed lance that goes for the heart by reversing cause and effect. If Saber's instinct hadn't been so sharp..."
I hated that moment, even when knowing she would survive. She takes on my explanation after a short silence.
"I have rarely witnessed a more suited Noble Phantasm for duels. That man might have the best anti-personal attack of this war, especially since it does not seem to cost him much prana. He does not compare to me in strength alone but he is definitely troublesome."
Her last sentence echoes with a pride that brings a smile to my face. Such confidence is to be respected. Tohsaka takes a sip from her cup of tea before answering.
"That is certainly as interesting as worrying. However, if you managed to dodge that, you are an even bigger threat than him."
She craftily smiles to Saber who remains silent. Disappointed by the lack of reaction, she then turns back to me.
"All right, Ben, since you didn't order Saber to cut off my head yet and provided what you promised, it's my turn. What is it that you want to know?"
Here we are. Technically I know more than her, so I have to pretend.
"Hmm... Are there any other Servants or Masters that you know of?"
"Nope. I do know that there is one at school though."
I raise an eyebrow. "School?"
A frown. "Homura Academy, which I happen to go to. Any problem with that?"
Her defensiveness amuses me. "Not at all. What makes you say that?"
Running a hand through her long hair, she answers in a very calm tone.
"A boundary field has been set up there. It will dissolve anything that breathes within its vast area of effect in about a week, if my calculations are correct."
She doesn't seem much panicked about it. I know about the Master responsible for this, but I can't tell her or Saber like that. How complicated... Taking my silence as a desire to hear more, Tohsaka goes on.
"I found one of the key points of the field, but the magic is too advanced for me. It was certainly made by a Servant."
"Are you thinking of Caster?"
"That was my first idea, but it could also be any other hero's ability. You'd think a Caster class would use more efficient magic than that, but anything is possible."
I get started on my tea too.
"I see. That's troublesome. Consuming such an amount of souls would give that Servant a lot of energy at the price of innocent lives. That's despicable."
Saber's dark expression makes perfectly clear that she doesn't approve of such a method either. Her next words come out bitterly.
"Some Masters compensate their weakness by resorting to similar measures. There is a difference between fighting a war and slaying citizens for one's own benefit."
Tohsaka keeps her cool and answers us in a tone that would suit a teacher.
"We reach the same conclusions but there's one more thing. Ben, you said you recently arrived in town so you might not know, but a lot of incidents have been happening all around."
"Oh?"
"Large groups of people have been found on the edge of dying without apparent wounds. It's happened several times in very different places and the official explanation is gas leaks. This is obviously a Servant at work."
"The same one?"
She shakes her head slowly.
"The two methods don't commute... Draining life from people with precision is a much more subtle magic and it suits a 'proper' Master more too, since it doesn't involve straight murder."
She pauses and must see something on our faces because her cheeks redden.
"Hey, I don't approve of it either! Besides, the way it's been happening all around makes its instigator much less tracable, thus more dangerous."
After a pause that allows us to empty our cups, I decide to make a recap.
"So we have Lancer, Saber, your Archer, an unknown Master that set a death trap up, and likely another one draining people's energy around town. Moreover, one of the last two is undeniably Caster."
Both girls nod.
"That's a good summary. If that's all for you, I'm going home."
You wished, Tohsaka Rin. I have other plans for tonight.
"Hold on, I wanted to know more about the supervisor. I heard he was a priest that took part in the last war. Kotosomething..."
She snorts, clearly unhappy with that particular topic.
"I take it the Association briefed you about that priest. His name is Kotomine Kirei and he lives in a church on the top of a hill across town, near Shinto."
"I see. Shouldn't I introduce myself to him?"
That surprises her.
"Huh? I bet no one will do that, but I can take you there if you really want to. It's a bit far on foot, but he's been harassing me lately, so it'll calm him down if I bring the seventh Master along."
Saber answers this time. "You would lend us a hand like that? Why?"
Tohsaka doesn't seem affected by the suspicious tone whatsoever, probably because she was using the exact same one five minutes ago.
"I just told you, I also have business with him, even if I'd better never see him again. He's not really a charming person. Plus..."
She pauses, and looks away. "You two don't seem that bad, since you spared me and all."
I try to hide my happiness but I think my cheerful tone betrays me.
"We did promise we wouldn't attack you for the night. I'd be glad if you showed us the way, Rin."
She blushes and glares at me.
"Hey now, why are you calling me by my first name?"
I raise my hands defensively.
"Ah, my bad. Using first names isn't a big deal where I come from. Do you mind?"
She hastily stands up and heads to the entrance, embarrassed... or mad. Probably both.
"Just do as you want! Let's go, it's late enough already!"
She finishes her sentence in the corridor. What a temper... Saber gives me a funny look and I think I return it. Soon we follow the motion and walk to the entrance door. The knight stays close to me for protection and it feels a bit overwhelming. It's probably because I haven't got used to her presence yet, but I am certain that will become easier over time.
-.-.-.-
Rin didn't take the opportunity to run away and is impatiently waiting in front of the house.
"Geez, you guys are slow. Planning something behind my back?"
"Obviously."
I ignore her sulking face and turn to my Servant.
"Saber, you're an invitation to attack with your armor on. Can you turn into spirit form for now?"
She looks downcast and answers in a small voice that doesn't fit her
"That is not an ability I possess, Master. I apologize for being a burden to you."
Oh damn, seeing her like that makes me feel even more guilty about knowing the answer beforehand. Rin is the first to react.
"You can't...? That's odd, every Servant should be able to. Was your summoning failed in some way?"
That activates my defensive mode.
"My summoning was perfect, thank you very much."
Her mischievous grin scares me for a second.
"Oh my, you are a touchy one, aren't you? Duly noted."
I think I just made a big mistake - she will totally use that as a weak spot. Saber ignores us and answers the original question.
"It is unrelated to the summoning. I never was able to turn into spirit form as a Servant."
Again Rin draws first. "That's definitely odd. Is there any reason why?"
The knight gives her a silent, blank stare.
"Ah... Of course you won't tell me. That's only fair."
Revealing information to a future enemy is indeed a bad call. After a shrug, Rin raises a finger.
"Anyway, Ben is right. Your armor is a bit too flashy for the current situation so you should take it off, if I can make that suggestion of course."
Finding revenge where she can, she smirks at me. I ignore her and nod at Saber.
"I can certainly summon it at will, thus it should not pose a problem even if Rin betrays us."
She closes her eyes and I imitate her when I catch Rin's expression. A metallic sound covers a protest I didn't want to hear, and the sight that awaits me right after makes me completely forget its source for a second. I feel my cheek burning. Her blue dress is beautiful and I'm not sure she's less remarkable like that. Rin freezes in shock as Saber looks at us, emotionless.
"Is this better, Ben?"
"W-Well, uh, yes."
I look away while Rin laughs and speaks up.
"You look gorgeous, Saber, but this isn't really stealthy. I'll bring you clothes if I have the chance later. Ben can also buy you some if he ever manages to speak normally again."
Damn you.
"This is perfect, Saber. We should go now."
I won't convince anyone by looking at the ground while saying that. Saber walks to me and looks at my face. She's around thirty centimeters shorter than me so I can't really escape her eyes.
"Are you feeling sick, Master? You are red from ear to ear."
I'm definitely panicking now.
"I'm fine! Can we just go?"
She bluntly insists.
"You look unwell! As a Servant, it is my duty to inquire!"
Rin lets out another laugh and finally explains in a tone that makes me want to break my promise immediately.
"It's nothing, Saber. Ben is just embarrassed because he finds you pretty in that dress. I didn't think he'd be the shy type."
Saber raises an eyebrow and steps back calmy. I wish I could use some sort of invisibility spell.
"I do not see why he would think that. As a knight and heroic spirit, my appearance is of no consequence."
I would have a bunch of objections to that but it isn't a battle I want to fight. I walk towards a direction, which catches them off guard.
"Let's just go, okay?!"
I hear Rin's voice behind me.
"Sure thing, but Ben... you're going the wrong way."
...
-.-.-.-
It must be around one o'clock and the city is very calm, amost too much. I guess the recent incidents don't push people to go out on a Sunday night. Rin is nice enough to give me details about the city.
"Up there is Ryuudou Temple, over there the residential district - my school is in that area - and this is the bridge that leads to Shinto, the modern part of Fuyuki. The church stands on a hill above it."
I thank her and we walk calmly. I can tell Saber is looking around with more attention than us. She must know the city well since she already fought in it, but I bet she's looking out for surprise attacks. The silence bores me after a while.
"Rin, how is Archer doing? Is he with you?"
"No, I sent him home to rest in his summoning circle. It's a bad wound so I don't think he'll be able to fight properly for a few days."
"Well, that sucks. For you, of course."
I tease her a bit as a revenge for earlier. She snorts.
"We'll manage. And when the time comes, we will gladly return the favor."
Saber doesn't answer, but I think I caught the glimpse of a smile on her face. Having nothing to add, the rest of the trip consists of bits of irrelevant small talk.
The church is in sight. It's beautiful, but I also find it ominous. The fact that I know who the priest really is doesn't help.
"Won't we wake him up?"
Rin shrugs. "I doubt it and even so, I don't care."
Well then. As we step towards the door, something tugs on my black coat.
"What is it, Saber?"
"Ben, I will not enter this place. It is not meant for Servants to be in, and frankly, I do not like it. I shall wait until your business with the priest is done and keep possible enemies away."
Her formal tone is somewhat cute.
"All right then. We won't be long, hopefully."
I follow Rin inside the building. She walks to the altar which I think you can't get near if the priest is absent.
"Kirei!"
She calls out for the man, who appears a minute after. Apparently perfectly awake, he gives her a content expression before speaking in a deep voice.
"Good evening, Rin. This is a pecular hour but your visits are so rare that I won't complain."
He notices my presence and walks up to me without waiting for her to reply.
"Oh, you brought a guest. Could you be...?"
Rin doesn't let him finish. She left her patience and manners at the door with my Servant, it would seem.
"He's the seventh. That's why I came, not because you harassed me on the phone."
Wait, I thought she had business with him? Maybe she just wants him to stop calling her... I can't blame her since his voice must be even creepier on the phone.
Kirei smiles. "I see. What is your name, seventh Master?"
"Benjamin."
My vexation taints my reply with provocation. His whole presence is so disturbing that I'm positive I would act the same if I didn't know who he was.
"Benjamin..."
He utters the word slowly, apparently surprised. Rin speaks up while walking to us.
"He was sent late by the Association and summoned his Servant, so everyone should be here now, right?"
He stays silent for a couple of seconds before answering calmly.
"Indeed. The last Servant summoned a few hours ago was Saber so I take you are their Master. My name is Kotomine Kirei."
I bet he knows that the Association didn't send me at all, but he thankfully doesn't object. His smile is quickly back and makes me want to run away.
"I am. I just arrived here and figured I would pay the supervisor a visit. Isn't that the correct process?"
"That is true, although most Masters are too careful to consider doing something of the sort. I can call them cowards if it sounds better to you."
I can't help answering him with defiance again.
"Are you calling me bold?"
He shakes his head. "Surely not. I am glad to meet you, and can officially say that the Fifth Holy Grail War has begun. Shall the best Master win and defeat the other ones."
I guess it's official now, even if only us can hear it. I feel the need to pick on the last thing he said.
"Or defeat the Servants. That's the main point, isn't it?"
His words echo with condescension.
"That is a naive point of view, but I can grant you that."
I know that too well. The Grail needs the souls of Servants to open but killing a Master is an almost certain way to make their Servant disappear. It's also much easier for obvious reasons.
Rin glares at him. "Don't try to corrupt him, you fake priest."
Kirei shrugs the attack off. "I am sure you know that the others won't hesitate. Some Masters have already started to kill citizens. It is against the rules but if you only care about that, you will be stabbed in the back."
I answer him with a hint of sarcasm.
"That's a weird thing to say for someone who's supposed to judge us."
His cheerful facade is disturbing.
"I am merely here to grant safety to Masters who lost their Servants, protect the Holy Grail and count points. I shall interject if something really gets out of control, but this will be a bloodbath either way."
Rin is obviously flustered but doesn't argue. Kirei goes on after a short pause.
"So, Saber's Master, do you have any questions? Since you managed to bring my pupil here, I will be nice enough to clarify anything."
Right, he took care of Rin's training after her father died in the past war. That twisted bastard just forgot to mention that he was the murderer. I show him my right hand.
"I got it settled. Three Command Spells, seven Servants and Magi. The Grail will fully appear when there's only one Servant remaining and that Servant will be able to take it, granting them and their Master whatever they seek. Oh, and something about trying to not get innocents involved."
He looks pleased with my answer.
"It seems you have a good grasp on it. Then, if you have no further business here, I suggest you both leave. Do not come back here unless you want protection."
Rin answers him with a hint of sarcasm.
"Or else we will lose points, right?"
"Exactly."
"Okay, bye then."
She walks away without ceremony and leaves the building while I face Kirei alone. He is a Master, sheltered in the safest place in town. To add to the unfairness, he has two Servants, one whom he kept from the last war and the other he stole, like I did a few hours ago. There are two enemies I'm really scared of in this war: Kotomine Kirei and Berserker. I can't stand his presence any longer, so I give him an awkward wave and follow my companion's example. Before I open the door, though, he sneaks on me. I turn back, very afraid for a second.
"What do you want now?"
"Stealing a Command Spell still makes you a Master. Your crime shall be overlooked, Benjamin. The Association was a good idea to convince Rin."
My heartbeat accelerates dramatically. I knew it, I knew it, I knew it! There's no way he's going to play with me just like that, though. I give him my most threatening glare.
"I guess we are both good at lying, Kotomine Kirei."
I don't look at his face as I walk out.
-.-.-.-
Rin and Saber are waiting outside. My last exchange with the priest was quiet and the door closed so they hopefully didn't overhear.
"Are you done with that place, Ben?"
My Servant walks up to me and I realize I'm never getting used to her dress. I will have to find her casual clothes soon or my heart won't be able to take it. Kirei's last words still resonate in my head and it must be visible on my face because the girls look worried. Saber closes the distance in an instant and looks at me. I shake these dark thoughts off my mind and force a small smile.
"Sorry, I'm okay, just felt weird for a second. I guess I don't like this place either."
She steps back while gauging my state. Rin gives me a knowing look.
"He is creepy, isn't he? Hopefully we won't see him again."
"I doubt that."
I say that without thinking much and she doesn't raise it. Her next question comes up after we resume walking.
"Say, Ben, what's the piece of cloth wrapped around your shoulder?"
Ah, she must have seen it when I took off my coat in Emiya's house. I give her a smirk.
"Say, Rin, what's up with you casting a high rank spell without any kind of buffer?"
She sulks and looks back ahead. I catch Saber smiling at our wills to keep secrets. There is no way I'm revealing my trump card to Rin unless the situation really calls for it. I rub my left shoulder absentmindedly, hoping that it won't be the case anytime soon. Trivial matters leave my mind as I tense up the more we walk the dark streets. I know there is another Master hunting right now, but I have no idea when they'll attack. We certainly won't get home safely. My Servant must feel my anxiety because she stares at me from time to time. She doesn't inquire, though, and stays focused on the surroundings. Rin speaks again soon enough.
"Your promise lasts for the night, so we will be enemies again soon."
I can't contain a sigh.
"True. I want to thank you for your help while I can, then. I have a much clearer view of Fuyuki now, and our discussion brought up useful info as well."
Her moody defense activates instantly.
"It was just a normal exchange, you shouldn't be grateful!"
Heh. She really is a nice person.
We cross the bridge again, not talking much, then she stops at a crossroads.
"This is where we part. Tomorrow will be the real start of the war, so be prepared."
I nod. "I am. Good night then, Rin."
She gives us an embarrassed "hmph" and walks away. I stay perfectly still while watching her figure shrink, my hearbeat accelerating with each step she takes. Sweat forms on my forehead regardless of the cold weather. Something was supposed to happen. Did I change the war so much already? Saber looks at me with curiosity.
"Ben, is there something bothering you? I do not sense any enemy nearby."
Bothering me? Well yes, where the hell is Berserker? He should have shown up! I try to calm down and answer her.
"If you don't feel anything then it's fine. Let's go."
"Understood. Where to?"
"The house we were in earlier. It'll make a good base and we left Avalon there."
Her gasp contrasts slightly with the super serious attitude she's been holding since we met.
"That is... true. Please forgive such a bad judgment from me, Master."
I wave a hand and take a reassuring voice.
"Don't worry, it's my fault too. Let's go rest and establish how we are going to win this war."
She returns my smile, which makes my heart skip a beat. "A good idea."
We start walking but I still feel restless. Berserker should have attacked us but he didn't. Something is off... There's no way I'll let my guard down yet. However, walking along with Saber in this cold night is a great feeling that I will certainly never forget.
As we approach our destination, my anxiety doesn't get away and I don't talk to my companion much.
"Ben, you have been acting strange since we left Rin. What is on your mind?"
I look at her, unsure of what I can say.
"It's just... a nasty feeling. I doubt tonight's events won't raise more reactions."
"I understand. Constant vigilance is good but it is mainly my role. You should try to relax a bit or you will pass out before our next battle."
Hold on, is she finding that funny?
"Hey, I know... Let's just rest for now."
"I shall watch over your sleep. No enemies will take us by surprise."
I doubt that I'll ever be able to sleep if she's next to me.
"About that, Saber-"
We stop as a beastly roar pierces the night. It comes from far away, in the direction we came from. A chill runs through my whole body.
"Rin?"
A metallic sound indicates to me that Saber just armed herself.
"Master! What is your command?"
Berserker decided to show up later than expected, apparently. Think quickly, Ben.
"Go there as fast as you can, I'll catch up soon enough. Don't use your Noble Phantasm unless you have no choice. Defeat any threat and help Rin if she's involved."
She surprisingly doesn't question that last order and gives me a fierce nod before taking off. Her magically enhanced speed should allow her to reach the enemy in little time. I take a deep breath.
"Vitesse divine."
I channel prana through my legs. I won't be as fast as her but I'm sure she can hold the fort for a while. I start dashing into the dark streets, trying to suppress my rampant fear.
INTERLUDE - RIN
Walking at a brisk pace, the girl in red thinks about everything that happened tonight. Her Servant is at her mansion but she established a mental link with him soon after the summoning. Once Archer has been updated, he makes his opinion perfectly clear.
"That was certainly a dumb decision. You had opportunities to run away yet stayed near Saber and her Master."
She sulks, although he can't see it.
"I know, but they made a promise and... I guess I'm too good-natured. I would have escaped if I had felt enmity from any of them, but that didn't happen once Saber stayed her sword."
The Servant's sarcastic tone echoes in her head.
"And what benefits did you get from this encounter, exactly?"
"We know what Lancer's Noble Phantasm is and what happened to Emiya. Also, Kirei shouldn't bother me anymore."
"The only useful thing here is the first information, Rin. You shouldn't care about the boy."
Archer was against saving Emiya Shirou in the first place. Witnesses must be eliminated - that's what she was told all her life while being trained as a Magus.
"He died because of me, Archer, but what's done is done. I'm just mad that I wasted my trump card."
She used her father's legacy, a pendant filled with magical energy, to heal Emiya's fatal wound. The item could have been very useful in the war, but it only gave him one more hour of life before Lancer killed him for good.
"About that, I find Saber's Master circumstances suspicious. For an innocent, he certainly made sure to not leave any traces."
"I know, Archer. I intend to keep an eye on him because his presence was way too coincidental. I'm not nice enough to believe him just like that. Though if he summoned Saber, he can't be that bad either. She's so perfect..."
Archer's pause speaks for itself, making her chuckle. He's too easy.
"I'm glad to see that my Master isn't completely blind, and I will make you regret praising Saber when I'm healed up."
Rin thinks of something she had overlooked.
"Why did you barely fight against her? I thought you'd be able to hold her off for a bit."
A long silence follows.
"It was a mistake from my part. I have no clear explanation, but I wasn't focused as much as I should have been in this fight. I've lost my memories, but there's a chance that I met Saber in the past."
Her eyes widen.
"Wow, what are the odds... As a Servant, or during your life?"
The answer is disappointingly short. "I don't recall."
She ponders. "Since you are a knight class, it might be the latter. Oh well, just make sure you don't hold back next time, all right?"
His sarcastic tone comes back. "Same for you."
The mansion is in sight. It is a Western-style house where she lives alone. She sighs in relief, thinking about a good night rest, when a voice echoes from further ahead on the road.
"Walking around without a Servant? That is very stupid, Rin."
A chill runs down her spine. Looking up, she sees the owner of that high-pitched voice: a small girl with white hair and two big red eyes. She is smiling.
Damn, she was almost home! Rin instantly gets on guard, taking a few jewels in her hand.
"Were you spying on us?"
That would explain how she knows her name. The small girl's threatening cheerfulness doesn't suit her appearance. She might be a child but her narrowing eyes shine with a murderous intent.
"Oh, I was. I heard you were Servant-less, so I thought I'd come out and kill you right away. A useless Servant makes a useless Master, right?"
Rin focuses on her options instead of arguing with the enemy. She calls her Servant with her mind.
"Archer?"
"I know. I won't be able to do much in my state, but I'm standing right behind the door."
Good. She decides to buy as much time as she can.
"Who are you?"
The girl makes a polite reverence.
"Ilyasviel von Einzbern. I am sure my name rings a bell to you."
"Einzbern!"
That spells trouble. The Einzberns are one of the three Magi families who created the Holy Grail ritual, and they've been desperately seeking it since. That child must be a first class Master. The moonlight darkens as something huge appears next to Ilyasviel. The Servant is a dark giant carrying a terrifying presence. He is holding an unrefined sword and stands perfectly still, waiting for an order.
"I brought Berserker with me to crush you!"
She can tell that he is on an entire different level from a regular Servant. Even from far away, she is more impressed by his aura than Saber's when she faced her directly. Such power is just unfair. Archer doesn't stand a chance, especially in his state. At least that thing must be slow. Ilyasviel taps her foot in impatience.
"Done talking? Then kill her, Berserker. Leave no trace of her weak body."
She says that in a singsong voice and the mad warrior immediately jumps towards Rin. He is much faster than expected! He will be on her in a second-
The door of her house opens wide and a red figure armed with dual swords dashes. It hits Berserker on the side, interrupting his jump. The two Servants face each other. Archer is already panting heavily while his enemy is more surprised than hurt. It's obvious that the red knight will become a punching bag soon.
They don't have any other choices, though. Given Berserker's speed, there is no use trying to run away. She won't die without a fight.
"Archer, try to hold him off for a bit while I find an opportunity to cast a spell."
The bowman raises his swords with a slight nod. Ilyasviel speaks up angrily.
"What are you waiting for? Just crush that stupid Archer!"
Berserker roars. That's probably the only sound he can make. Servants of that class lose their sanity in exchange of additional power. It is often a trait that allows low rank heroes to be on par with their opponents, but this one was certainly a high rank heroic spirit from the start. His shout echoes in the whole town, making Rin's heart act up. He rushes at Archer and swings his huge sword. It's parried, but both short blades break. Their owner avoided the hit but its power shook him anyway. He can barely stand now. Berserker doesn't wait and raises his sword without an ounce of mercy. Aiming at the head, he wants to finish this quickly. Archer finds the strength to jump to his right with a pained groan while casting back his swords. As the giant turns to him, he throws one of them at his face. It is repelled with an annoyed hand motion.
Knowing that she won't get a bigger chance than that, Rin dashes behind Berserker. She takes three of her most powerful jewels and throws them.
"Zwei, drei, vier!"
Busy with Archer, the enemy can't avoid the ice explosion. He swings his free hand to crush one of the icicles while another one scratches his back. He should be slower now, but she missed the kill.
"Kill her! Archer can't do anything!"
Berserker tries to shake his frozen hand without success before kicking Archer. The bowman crashes against a nearby wall and doesn't stand back up. He is still alive but useless. The monster then turns to face Rin. She's paralyzed. Her war is going to end on the first day. Pathetic.
He starts advancing towards her but stops and looks at his side, in the direction Rin came from. She felt it too. A huge magical energy source is approaching fast. A golden light fills their vision before something rushes at Berserker with the power of a missile. Rin's eyes squint before seeing her.
Saber and Berserker's swords collide in a deafening sound.
INTERLUDE OUT
I try to catch up but Saber is way faster than me. I bet she will reach her destination in no time. It was careless to let Rin go on her own without protection. She would have declined but I still feel guilty. I hope she and Archer survive until Saber shows up. Berserker isn't an opponent that will show mercy.
Stop thinking and run, damn.
-.-.-.-
I hear the battle long before seeing it. Fortunately, Rin lives in a quiet area with few neighbors. The noise will still draw attention but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. I stop when I see everyone and take a moment to catch my breath while my enhancing spell ends. Archer is lying against a wall. Given the hole in it, he was probably thrown at it against his will. Rin is standing on the other side of the street, watching the two Servants fight with awe. I can't really blame her. Saber dances around Berserker with a hypnotizing fluidity, parrying his sword only when necessary. On an open field like that, not moving means her demise. However, no matter how well she fights him head on, the enemy is as fast and more powerful. If Saber's attacks are a shotgun, Berserker's is a rocket launcher that launches infinite rockets. Each hit from his huge, ugly sword is a potentially fatal one.
As I get closer, I can see that he's crippled by some ice - probably Rin's doing. His left hand and a small part of his back are frozen, which is probably why she is still a match for him. She dodges a slower hit and slashes his side in a dash. The deep wound doesn't seem to affect him because he counters immediately with all his might. She blocks it but is pushed back a few meters while his terrifying howl echoes once more. I try to ignore the dreadful sensation crawling down my body and look at Saber closely. She is visibly in pain. Damn, there's some blood dripping from the chest would she got earlier. The curse of Gae Bolg can't heal up in a night, and she has already fought three battles.
For now, no one seems to have noticed me, or they just don't care. After considering my options, my next move becomes clear.
"What are you...?"
Archer's weak voice greets me as I run to him. I ignore Rin's distant gasp and kneel in front of him.
"Quiet or we all die."
My hand lays on his chest. He's too weak to push me away but I sense his will to cut me in half very clearly.
I draw some prana from my stock and cast a healing spell. It's not much but it should allow him to move around. His eyes widen as he feels it, then we both stand up. I do step back slightly, just in case.
"Berserker! Kill that man!"
Ilya saw me. Damn. I turn around only to see the giant preparing his charge. Saber has apparently been repelled again and is running back to him. She won't make it, though. As Berserker lifts off, Archer groans and grabs me by the waist. He jumps high in the air, as if I weighed nothing, and avoids the charge. Such strength... We land ten meters behind our original spot. The wall, not as lucky, crumples under the attack.
"Now we're even, Saber's Master."
I wish I could talk back to him, but our situation is still precarious. Saber reaches the enemy and they resume their duel as if they were never interrupted. Archer is panting heavily and I understand that he won't be much more helpful.
"Kill her! What are you waiting for?!"
The small girl sounds mad. I run to Rin who hasn't moved a muscle. Her eyes are filled with surprise and incomprehension.
"Why did you come...?"
I yell to wake her up. "No time for this! We need a strategy!"
She groans before looking at Ilyasviel. The ominous girl is standing far away from us. She stares back and smiles maliciously.
"There is no way your weak Servants can beat my Hercules, the greatest hero of Greece."
Rin gasps. "No way... such a famous hero summoned as a Berserker, and she can control him?"
Heroic spirits' powers are higher the more famous they are. Given that, Berserker is certainly stronger than King Arthur or an unknown man, even without his unfair Noble Phantasm.
I keep my voice low. "Rin, we should try to take her down."
She nods nervously. I wasn't planning on killing Ilya since she's a key part of the Holy Grail ritual, but the only thing that matters to me right now is that Saber is being hurt, and I'm feeling powerless. Each blow seems harder to block than the previous one. The field isn't good for her as it doesn't provide much cover, she isn't at her peak... We are losing. Even if I told her to use her Noble Phantasm, I doubt it would be fatal in her current state. There is another way though... I look at my left shoulder but decide against it for now.
Rin's left arm glows. That's her magic crest, inherited from her family. She aims at Ilya and shoots a barrage of dark orbs. The girl raises a hand and repels them with a spell of her own. I doubt a magic of this level can be of use against her. My hope of planning another move dies as the giant dashes to get between us, hiding the small silhouette. I hear her giggling.
"Kill them both."
"Master, run away!"
Saber is late but the giant is far enough for me to defend. I extend my right hand and cast a boundary field that should protect us from at least one hit.
"Protège et repousse!"
As it starts forming, Berserker doesn't run as expected but hits the ground in front of him. I hear Saber shouting something before my vision gets obstructed by a wall of flying rocks...
-.-.-.-
I open my eyes without any idea of how much time passed. I still hear swords clashing but I can only see the night sky. Why am I lying on the ground? Turning my head to the right, I spot Rin. She has blood on her face and seems unconscious. We were so weak that Berserker didn't even have to move and the rocks had no problem getting through my hastily summoned barrier. I miscalculated greatly. The Command Spell on my right hand is throbbing, which makes me understand that Saber is at her limit. I try to move my legs and realize one is stuck under a rock. I also realize that it hurts like hell.
Wait, Rin is unconscious? It's time, then. I grab the cloth wrapped around my left shoulder, under my coat, and loosen the knot a bit. A wave of pain incomparable to the one in my leg assaults me and turns my vision red. I feel like my head is going to explode. My nerves burn as prana runs through them and the link between Saber and me. I wasn't expecting such a side effect. I had guessed that an energy burst wouldn't be without consequences but this is insane! I groan and try to raise my upper half, holding my shoulder. Once seated, I sense Saber's energy rising. At least that thing works. Focusing through my blurry sight, I see that both Servants are surprised. Berserker stopped and is staring at his enemy in silence.
Saber holds her sword upright, and a strong wind blows as if answering her energy. If this doesn't work, we all die.
"This is the end, Berserker!"
The giant roars and starts running at her, but an arrow hits him on the right cheek. Archer managed to shoot. It's not enough to actually do damage, but it stops him for an instant. That's all what my Servant needs. With a yell, she delivers a blow with all her might, her invisible sword looking like a tornado. Berserker tries to block it with his left hand, but the frozen appendage is easily cut off. The sword slashes him vertically, all across the chest. That's a fatal blow for sure. Saber steps back as life leaves the Servant's body. This was our last chance and we got it.
No... They don't know his ability... I try to tell her to run, but I can't speak. My throat is made of needles thanks to my latest action. I tighten the seal again, but the pain doesn't go away and I feel completely drained. I lie back on the ground, unable to maintain my balance. Someone lands behind me. His deep voice echoes with panic.
"Saber, this isn't over! Take your Master and run away!"
I see Rin being lifted up by her Servant and disappearing in the blink of an eye. Saber runs to me.
"Ben?"
She really is beautiful, especially with that worried expression tainted with pride. I know we can't lose when I see her like that. We hear a deep growl and she looks behind her.
"Impossible... A reviving curse?"
Yes. That beast must be slayed twelve times before it can be defeated. We have to run. She removes the rocks on my leg and lifts me up as gently and quickly as she can.
"This will hurt. Hold still."
Then she jumps into the night and the pain immediately sends my consciousness to oblivion. The last thing I see is her emerald stare.
INTERLUDE - ILYASVIEL
"How could you let them escape?"
She cannot believe it. The girl yells at her invincible Servant who was made fun of tonight and killed once.
"You even lost a hand! You are useless, Berserker!"
The giant doesn't answer, as he cannot form words. His Master looks at the sky.
"Who is this guy anyway? Where is big brother?"
She saw him the day before! She wanted to avenge her family, and now she has to deal with an unknown Master who managed to hurt her Berserker!
Nothing went as she wanted.
"Bring me back home. I had enough for tonight, they are all boring."
The Servant puts her on his shoulder before disappearing into the night. What she doesn't know is that her initial target's ashes now rest in a trash can.
INTERLUDE OUT